Shoring clamp



March 28, 1961 w, DODGE 2,976,823

SHORING CLAMP Filed May 2, 1958 lNVENTbR. WILL/AM s. DODGE $3 M, mm 5 MSHORlNG CLAMP William S. Dodge, San Francisco, Calif., assignor toMatson Navigation Company, San Francisco, Calif.

Filed May 2, 1958, Ser. No. 732,488

Claims. (Cl. 105-369) This invention relates to a beam shoring clamp,and has for one of its objects the provision of a device adapted for usein positioning and holding studs between decks in a ship, which studsmay be in a shoring fence employed in securing cargo.

Another object of the invention is the provision of beam shoring clampsadapted to support studding used in the shoring fences for securingcargo, and which clamps may be removably secured to the beams at any ofthe points desired along said beams, irrespective of the camber of thelatter, for holding the studs at their upper ends when the studs aresupported on the deck below said beams.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a beamshoring clamp that is simple, economical to make and to use, and that isadapted to firmly but releasably grip the horizontal lower flanges of aconventional steel deck supporting beam at any desired point along thelatter, and which clamp is provided with means for slidably receivingthe upper end of studs used in a shoring fence to support such upper endirrespective of the length of the stud, provided it is of sufficientlength to project into said means when supported on a deck below thebeam.

The principle involved in the design is to provide positive lockingmeans for the studs of a shoring fence at the points of greatest strain,i.e., at the top of the shoring. The manner in which the studding issecured at the deck level is not here involved. It is important,however, that the beam clamps for the upper ends of the studs beapplicable, with equal facility, to any normal condition that isencountered, and that they should not be secured to the studs, as byclamps, nails, screws etc.,.nor should the lengths of the studs used becritical in order that the clamps be effective.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description' and in thedrawings.

In the drawings: I

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view that is illustrative of a stud in ashoring fence disposed between decks and held at its upper end by ashoring clamp.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Fig. l andbroken in length.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the lower end of a stud where there is awood ceiling.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the beam shoring clamp used at the upperendof each stud; 1

It is to be understood that Fig. 1 is merely illustrative of oneapplication of the beam shoring clamps, inasmuch as they are equallyuseful for construcing special storage compartments where and whenneeded, and for use on transverse framing members for lateral bracing ofcargo, explosive magazines, grain shifting boards, and/or feeders, etc.The clamp itself in each instance will be substantially the same.

In detail, Fig. 1 shows a deck supporting beam 1 extending thwartwise ofthe ship, and a shoring fence 2 that includes a stud 3 extending betweendeckhead 4 and deck tates Patent v 2,976,823 Patented Mar. 28, 1961 5and which stud is held at its upper end to beam 1 by a shoring clamp 6,the latter being shown in detail in Fig. 4. p

The conventional beam 1, as seen in Fig. 2, comprises a vertical,horizontally extending web- 7 having a horizontal flange 8 integraltherewith along its lower edge. The web 7 is welded along its upper edgeto the deckhead 4. The beam 1 and the deckhead have the usual camber.

The beam shoring clamp employed is identical where there is a woodenceiling such as indicated at 9 in Fig. 3, being understood that theceiling 9 is normally on a steel deck.

The clamp 6 comprises a vertically disposed and vertically elongatedplate 10 that is formed with a rectangular opening 11 approximatelycentrally between its ends and between its vertical side edges.

The portion 12 of the plate 10 above the opening 11 may be called aclamping jaw, inasmuch as this portion is adapted to be clamped againstthe face or beam-Web side of the beam 1, as seen in Fig. 2.

A lateral projection 13, integral with the lower end of I the plateprovides a rectangular opening one side of in cross sectional contour.

which is the lower end of the plate 10. This projection 13 is adapted toslidably pass therethrough the upper end of stud 3, the latter usuallybeing approximately 4 x 4" stud will be at the same side of the plate 10as the projection 13, and at the beam-web side of the beam 1.

An element 14 is at the side of the plate 10 opposite to the projection13, and said element is approximately the same width, from its upper toits lower end, as plate 10 and is formed at its upper end to provide alaterally directed channel portion 15 adapted to receive the flange 8therein. Thus the open lateral side of the portion 15 will be directedtoward the clamping jaw 12, which jaw, as has been noted, is the upperend of plate 10.

The upper side 16 of the channel portion 15 is shorter than the lowerside 17 (Fig. 4). By this structure, when the flange 8 is seated againstthe bottom of the channel 15, the lower side 17 of the channel willterminate fairly close to plate 10, although the upper side 16 does notreach the web 7 of flange 1.

Element 14 has a leg 18 integral therewith that depends from the freeedge of the lower side 17 of the channel 15, and this leg is formed withan opening 19 that is adapted to align with the opening 11 in plate 10.

The leg 18 extends a distance below opening 19 andis; formed along itslower edge with a foot 20 that projects is adapted to draw the channelportion 15 of element 14 and the jaw 12 of plate 10 tightly against thebeam 1, with the flange 8 in said portion 15 and jaw 12 against thebeam-web side of the beam. Thus the channel portion 15 forms a clampingjaw that is opposed to jaw 12. The foot 20 functions as a fulcrum aboutwhich the channel portion or jaw 15 may swing.

"Assume the shoring fencing is to be installed betweena steel deckhead 4and a steel deck 5. After cargo 25' is stowed (Fig. 1) the conventionalfence 28 is positioned against it. Studs 3, each with a clamp 6 at itsupper end, are positioned adjacent to the beams 1 with jaws 12, 15 ofthe clamps at opposite sides of each beam with flange 8 of each beam inthe jaw 15. Each stud may be moved tightly against the fencing and eachclamp is then tightened against the beam that is between the clampingjaws by tightening each nut 24. Counter driven wedges 26, 27 (Fig. 2)extending fore and aft below each stud will function to force the studagainst the deck- Thus the upper end of said head 4, and will hold thelower end of each stud in position with adequate firmness.

Where there is a wooden ceiling 9 (Fig. 3), cleats 29 may be toenailedto the studs 3 and the cleats nailed to the ceiling at the inboard sidesof the studs. The lengths of the studs may vary, provided they extendthrough the projections 13 of the clamps.

The degree of the camber of the beam is immaterial, since the element 14is adapted to pivot about the'axis of the bolt 21 so that the stud maybe held vertical but the element 14 may pivot to follow the flange 8.

By the above system in which the clamping elements 14 are employed, thestuds are quickly adjustable to different positions along the beams andmay be secured to the beams in adjusted positions of the studs. Also theclamps and studs are quickly removable and no projections are left onthe deck or ceiling. Furthermore, the lengths of the posts are notcritical, and the clamps may be quickly slipped off the studs.

It is to be understood that the illustrations and descriptions are notintended to be restrictive of the invention, and the claims are intendedto cover modifications coming within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A beam shoring clamp comprising: a pair of spaced, opposed clampingjaws movable horizontally toward each other to releasably clamp anoverhead beam therebetween, a bolt connecting said jaw for so movingthem toward each other and for releasably holding them in a positionclamped to such beam, a stud receiving portion rigid with one jaw ofsaid pair having'a vertically directed opening formed therein throughwhich the upper end of a stud is adapted to freely pass to support suchstud upright on a deck below such beam, the other jaw of said pair beingrotatable to different positions on and about the axis of said bolt toenable said other jaw to be positioned at different angles relative tosaid one jaw, and said one jaw being relatively wide to enable clampingsuch beam between said jaws when said other jaw is at an angle relativeto said one jaw.

2. A beam shoring clamp for clamping to a beam of the type having ahorizontally disposed flange with a free laterally directed edgeextending longitudinally of the beam at one side thereof, said clampcomprising; a vertically disposed plate one side of which is adapted toengage the side of said beam opposite to the aforesaid free edge thereofand a flange engaging element formed with a laterally directed recessadapted to receive said flange therein along said free edge thereof,said plate and said element having extensions depending therefrom formedwith coaxial openings at a point spaced below said beam when said plateand said element are at opposite sides of the latter, a bolt extendingthrough said.

openings, the lower end of the extension on said element having alaterally projecting foot thereon at a point spaced below said bolt forengagement with the lower extension on said plate to provide a fulcrumabout which said flange engaging element is adapted to swing upontightening said bolt, and means rigid with said plate adapted to holdthe upper end of a stud therein in a position alongside the side of saidplate that is opposite tosaid element.

3. A beam shoring clamp for clamping to a beam of the type having ahorizontally disposed flange with a ment having a laterally projectingfoot therein at a point 4 free laterally directed edge extendinglongitudinally of the beam at one side thereof, said clamp comprising; avertically disposed plate one side of which is adapted to engage theside of said beam opposite to the aforesaid free edge thereof and aflange engaging element formed with a laterally directed recess adaptedto receive said flange therein along said free edge thereof, said plateand said element having extensions depending therefrom formed withcoaxial openings at a point spaced below said beam when said plate andsaid element are at opposite sides of the latter, a bolt extendingthrough said openings, the lower end of the extension on said elespacedbelow said bolt for engagement with the lower extension on said plate toprovide a fulcrum about which said flange engaging element is adapted toswing upon tightening said bolt, and means rigid with said plate adaptedto hold the upper end of a stud therein in a position alongside the sideof said plate that is opposite to said element, the said elementincluding the downward extension thereon and the foot at the lower endof the latter being a unit swingable about the axis of said boltrelative to said plate to enable said element to receive said flangeirrespective of variations in the camber of said flange relative tovertical.

4. In combination with a deck supporting beam and a deck below saidbeam, a beam shoring clamp having a pair of opposed clamping jawsbetween which said beam is positioned, means connected with said jawsand disposed below said beam for tightening said jaws against saidbeams, a downward extension on and rigid-with one jaw of said pairhaving a lateral projection rigid therewith extending to the side ofsaid one jaw that is opposite to the other jaw of said pair, saidprojection having a vertically directed opening formed therein and avertical stud supported on said deck extending at its upper end intosaid opening.

5. In combination with a deck supporting beam and a deck below saidbeam, a beam shoring clamp having a pair of opposed clamping jawsbetween which said beam is positioned, means connected with said jawsand disposed below said beam for tightening said jaws against saidbeams, a downward extension on and rigid with one jaw of said pairhaving a lateral projection rigid therewith extending to the side ofsaid one jaw that is opposite to the other jaw of said pair, saidprojection having a vertically directed opening formed therein and avertical stud supported on said deck extending at its upper end intosaid opening, said means connected with said jaws for tightening thelatter including a horizontal bolt and said other jaw of said pair beingswingable about the axis of said bolt.

References Cited in the lite of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS913,772 Rosenfeld Mar. 2, 1909 1,245,047 Sherman Oct. 30, 1917 1,820,229Korns Aug. 25, 1931 2,284,302 Roberts May 26, 1942 2,340,374 George Feb.1, 1944 2,376,041 Ellerthorpe May 15, 1945 2,546,929 Nampa Mar. 27, 19512,751,175 Jones June 19, 1956

